A free access self-learning course is available on the project platform http://farmknowledge.org/index.php/courses. The objective of this course is to enable users to familiarize themselves with the latest insights, context and concepts of organic arable farming. Particular attention will be given to tools and practices, collected within the projectin order to tackle current difficulties related to production and crop protection.

Come and join us on the OK-Net Arable Final Conference in Brussels on 15 November! The event is co-organized with the 3rd edition of Organic Innovation Days (15-17 Nov), which will showcase the potential innovation trends in the agricultural sector and what these mean for organics in terms of opportunities and risks.

The objective of the course is to enable students and professionals to familiarize with the latest insights, context and concepts of Organic Arable Farming and to provide them new tools and practices to tackle current difficulties related to production and protection.

New platform for farmers to find organic solutions and exchange knowledge launchedBrussels, 3 October 2016

Today a new platform – OK-Net Arable – aimed at filling the gap in the exchange of information between farmers across Europe was launched. The complexity of organic farming requires farmers to have a very high level of knowledge and skills. But exchange on organic farming techniques remains limited. We have therefore been working together with partners across Europe to bring you OK-Net Arable, a web-based platform to promote exchange of knowledge among farmers, farm advisers and scientists. / OK-Net Arable uses a web-based platform to promote exchange of knowledge among farmers, farm advisers and scientists.

The OK-Net Arable platform provides access to a wide range of tools and resources that can help improve production. Below you can search the database of the OK-Net Arable Knowledge platform.

The complexity of organic farming requires farmers to have a very high level of knowledge and skills. But exchange on organic farming techniques remains limited. OK-Net Arable promotes exchange of knowledge among farmers, farm advisers and scientists with the aim to increase productivity and quality in organic arable cropping all over Europe

OK-Net Arable is coordinated by IFOAM EU and involves 17 partners from 12 countries all over Europe. The project is financed by Horizon 2020, the EU’s main funding instrument for research and innovation. OK-Net Arable is proud to be one of the first four so-called thematic networks funded under the umbrella of the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI). This policy instrument aims to foster innovation by connecting farmers and researchers. OK-Net Arable started in March 2015 and will run until February 2018.

OK-Net Arable takes a very innovative approach in that in all stages of the project, farmers play a prominent role. Much more than being asked for advice, farmers contribute to a process of co-creation of knowledge throughout the project. This work is facilitated by the participation of 14 farmer innovation groups.

Knowledge exchange for better farmingDespite substantial growth of organic farming in the EU over the last decade, concerns have been raised whether organic farming is productive enough compared to conventional farming. On the other hand, evidence shows that the more experienced an organic farmer is, the smaller the yield difference with conventional farms. Indeed, organic agriculture works as a complex system which requires a very high level of knowledge. By promoting co-creation and exchange of knowledge, the OK-Net Arable project therefore has significant potential to increase productivity and quality in organic farming.

Map with project partners and practice partners:

This website is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 652654. The information contained within this project website reflects the views of the authors. The Research Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided.